#college-football

#college-football

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Four weeks ago in Missoula, a crowd of 27,340 watched Montana State play keep-away. Montana had just cut Montana State's lead to 31-28 with seven minutes remaining in a game that had already seen five lead changes. With one more stop, the Grizzlies would get the ball back with a chance to win and keep their unbeaten record intact. Correction: monthlong bragging rights, actually. Plus home-field advantage for the rematch.

The organization and its member universities were making a fortune while the players whose talents and bodies fuelled college sports got nothing, or close to it. The Southeastern Conference had just become "the first to crack the billion-dollar barrier in athletic receipts," Branch wrote, in The Atlantic. "The Big Ten pursued closely at $905 million." TV rights had driven the deluge, along with "a combination of ticket sales, concession sales, merchandise, licensing fees."

Ohio University fired coach Brian Smith for cause on Wednesday, saying Smith violated his contract by "engaging in serious professional misconduct and participating in activities that reflect unfavorably on the University." The school did not provide specifics on Smith's misconduct. Smith, who went 8-4 in his first regular season as Bobcats coach, had been placed on leave Dec. 1 for undisclosed reasons. A message sent to Smith's attorney was not immediately returned.

"He's a young man who's gotten better as the season's gone on, and not only physically, but mentally, maturity-wise," Sarkisian said. "I would think he's going to want another year of that growth to put himself in position for hopefully a long career in the NFL. And he's got some unfinished business of what he came here to do and what he came here to accomplish."

As a competitor, just like in everything I do I wanted to win. To be so close to my dream and come up short was painful. I didn't handle those emotions well at all and did not represent myself the way I wanted to. I have much love and respect for the Heisman voters and the selection process, and I apologize for being disrespectful. It was a mistake, and I am sorry.

A college bowl game's name is only as good as its mascot. Over the years, these fun (and sometimes edible) mascots have elevated end-of-season games into social media and pop culture spectacles. Reflect on notable mascots throughout college football bowl game history below: Bowl Dog, 68 Ventures Bowl Bowl fact: Marshall quarterback Byron Leftwich won MVP in the bowl (then known as the GMAC Bowl) in back-to-back years (2001, 2002).

Army football's entire identity depends on being efficient but their data expose a team that operates with fragility. At 4.8 yards per play, every drive is a puzzle that requires multiple correct moves in a row. There's no short cut, no explosive theta to bail them out, no quick score hiding in the back pocket. That's why Army has reached the end zone just 35 times all season, one of the lowest totals in the country.

The landscape of college football has obviously changed. But that was a point of contention when I won it. When I walked into the room that evening when they were making the Heisman announcement, I didn't think I was going to win it, because there was so much chatter that I didn't deserve to win it because I was older. But I've got it now, and they can't take it away.

HARRISONBURG, Va. -- James Madison athletic director Matt Roan used the public-address microphone to implore Dukes fans to stop throwing snowballs onto the field during the Sun Belt Conference championship game against Troy on Friday night, warning that their actions could cost JMU a penalty. Roan's address to the crowd followed an incident that affected the game. With 4:30 left in the first quarter, Troy's Evan Crenshaw was nearly hit by a snowball while punting from the end zone

Microsoft is sponsoring a college football bowl game, with the first-ever "Xbox Bowl" taking place on Thursday, December 18 with Missouri State taking on Arkansas State. The Xbox Bowl is the replacement for the Bahamas Bowl, which will not happen this year. In a press statement, broadcaster ESPN--which is carrying the event--said there will be "fun, Xbox-themed moments and in-venue activations designed specifically for the bow." The event is taking place in Frisco, Texas at the Ford Center.

Class of 2026 high school recruits who signed locked into the colleges of their choice for at least the next year. The day's biggest drama will come as Vanderbilt looks to flip five-star QB Jared Curtis from Georgia. There are only eight ESPN 300 prospects who remain uncommitted, notably defensive end Jordan Carter (No. 57), the top uncommitted player, and QB Peyton Falzone (No. 225) who is the lone ranked, uncommitted quarterback. He decommitted from Auburn on Monday.

Due to the early signing period, each coaching change -- both the firings and the hirings -- means that all members of recruiting classes (often 20 to 25 kids) have to readjust and decide (often in just a few days or even hours) whether to stick with their previous decision or try to flip to a new school. And that's if the new coach even wants them.

What's a college football season if you don't end it covered in shame? This year was even more shame-drenched than usual, especially if you held the most heralded position on the field: head coach. This season saw more mid-season coach firings than ever before, a knock-on effect of the arms race to get programs in top condition before the recruit- and transfer-signing bonanza begins.

Remarkably, we're less than five months from Day 1 of the draft, which starts April 23 in Pittsburgh. But plenty can change between now and then. The draft order won't be fully set until mid-February, and the No. 1 pick is up for grabs. The final stretch of the 2025 season, along with all-star events, the combine, pro day workouts and a ton of predraft interviews, will ultimately determine how draft boards will be constructed. But things are starting to take shape.

With the exception of teams that will play for their respective conference championship games, the résumés are complete. While there will likely be some shuffling as a result of what happens in the conference championship games, the fifth and penultimate ranking on Tuesday night will be the best indicator all season of which teams should feel comfortable heading into Selection Day -- and who might need some help.